Congrats to the Edgar Award nominees!

A quick shout-out to the nominees of the Edgar Awards, announced today (Mr. Poe's birthday) by Mystery Writers of America! This list always send me to the bookstore to add to my ever growing TBR pile...

Here are the nominees for the YA and Juvenile (that's the kid and MG category) mystery novels; you can find the full list on the Edgars website.

Best Juvenile:

Summerlost by Ally Condie (Penguin Young Readers Group – Dutton BFYR)
OCDaniel by Wesley King (Simon & Schuster – Paula Wiseman Books)
The Bad Kid by Sarah Lariviere by  (Simon & Schuster – Simon & Schuster BFYR)
Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand  (Simon & Schuster – Simon & Schuster BFYR)
Framed! by James Ponti (Simon & Schuster – Aladdin)
Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry by Susan Vaught
(Simon & Schuster – Paula Wiseman Books)

Best YA:

Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger (Simon & Schuster – Simon Pulse)
The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group – Henry Holt BFYR)
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse (Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown BFYR)
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier (Soho Press – Soho Teen)
Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor (Penguin Random House –
Penguin Young Readers – Dial Books)

Again, congrats to all the nominees!

January is for new old plans

Most people hate Mondays, but not me. I love that first workday of the week for its promise of a new start, a beginning full of promise. January is kind of the Monday of the year, so I like this month, too. Call me crazy.

I'm making new plans, though most of 2017 will be about finishing what I started, so I guess there more new old plans, which I'd say is a good thing. I'm editing the crime novel project (no title to give yet) this month; here's a picture of the printed rough draft. I literally walk between the chapters, moving pieces around, taking notes, removing elements that don't work. I'm such a visual person... There's nothing like seeing your writing on paper when it comes to editing.

Mystery Books and TV

I'm all about setting this month, since my current work-in-progress has a very strong sense of place. So I'm trying to learn from the masters; one great author who nails setting is Michael Koryta, I think. I'm reading So Cold The River right now, after really enjoying The Cypress House.

I would love to hear it if you have any recommendations of author who are good at setting!

As far as TV goes, we watched both seasons of Bosch and loved it--I even got my not-so-into-mystery husband to like this series. I binge-watched River (British crime show) by my lonesome, it's also recommended. Great character in both these series.

For Writers

I'll be part of the faculty at Pikes Peak Writers Conference this year, very exciting. I'm always honored when I'm asked to speak, and this conference is one of the best for writers, I think (and I've been to a few by now...). If you're in Colorado at the end of April, come join me! There are some amazing authors (Tess Gerritsen, for one) on the faculty, so come and be inspired.

On the Web

I've been off the grid somewhat, since December is such a Sunday kind of month: nothing but holiday stuff and 'best of' lists. So I'll close with a picture I took at Rocky Mountain National Park instead, because I love the outdoors here in Colorado. Doesn't it make you feel all zen and stuff?

Happy New Year, all! I hope it brings you all the best, and good health.